A great deal of history has been made in the Archdiocese of Dubuque since its founding in 1837. The Archives Office has attempted to put together a day by day accounting of both the significant and everyday events that have shaped our story.
*CHAD = Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1937)
| Description/Year | Location of material | |
| Oct. 1, 1877: St. Peter’s Church,New Haven completed. | CHAD* (1937): p. 285 | |
| Oct. 1, 1960: Establishment of St. Pius X parish in Cedar Rapids. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 2, 1952 : Death of Peter O’Malley, St. Anthony, Dubuque, pastor for 54 years | The Witness | |
| Oct. 2, 2001: Father Michael C. Fitzgerald was killed in an auto accident. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 2, 1971: Pilgrim Virgin statue visited Dubuque under the sponsorship of the Rosary Society of Nativity Parish, the beginning of the devotion in the Archdiocese. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 4, 1979: Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Living History Farms in Iowa; 350,000 pilgrims came to hear him. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 5, 1999: Death of Father Lawrence J. Guter, Principal of Wahlert High School for 17 years, among other priestly assignments. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 5, 1930: St. Patrick’s, Cedar Falls, celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. | CHAD* (1937): p. 285 | |
| Oct. 6, 1832: Father Van Quickenborne poured the first waters of Christian Baptism in Iowa Territory. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 7, 2016: Remains of Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt, first U.S. Chaplain killed in WWII, returned to Dubuque. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 8, 1878: Terrific wind storm swept through Monticello and destroyed Sacred Heart Church. | CHAD* (1937): p. 285 | |
| Oct. 9, 1979: Death of Archbishop Leo Binz. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 10, 1894: St. Mary’s Church, New Hampton was dedicated. | CHAD* (1937): p. 285 | |
| Oct. 10, 1962: Centennial celebration of the founding of St. Francis Parish serving Barclay and Dunkerton. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 11, 1962: Opening of the Second Vatican Council. | The Witness | |
| October 12, 1951: New windows installed at Sacred Heart/Dubuque, show area history. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 13, 1985: Sacred Heart in Grundy Center celebrates centennial. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 15: Feast of St. Teresa of Avila. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 16, 1930: Laying of the cornerstone for new Visitation Convent on the feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, an important feast of the Visitation Order. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 16, 1995: Pope John Paul II announced that he had accepted the resignation of Archbishop Kucera. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 17, 1948: Archbishop Francis J. Beckman died. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 17. 2009: St. Pius X Parish/Cedar Rapids, celebrates its 50th anniversary. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 17, 1956: Dedication of the new Jesup Church, St. Athanasius. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 18, 1855: The first Mass at St. Luke’s Church in St. Lucas was celebrated. October 18 is the feast of St. Luke, which is the reason for the name of the parish. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 20, 1975: Father Ray Herman murdered in Bolivia. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 21, 1929: Laying of corner stone for new, larger Assumption Church in Cresco. The old church had been completely destroyed by fire on March 18, 1929. | CHAD* (1937): p. 285 | |
| Oct. 22, 1902: Immaculate Conception, Haverhill dedicated. | CHAD* (1937): p. 285 | |
| Oct. 24: Feast of Saint Raphael, Patron of the Archdiocese of Dubuque | The Witness | |
| Oct. 26, 1871: At invitation of Archbishop Hennessy, 6 Sisters of the Visitation of St. Louis came to Dubuque and opened an academy with an initial enrollment of 50. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 26, 1947: Dedication of Loras College Chapel of Christ the King. Cardinal Stritch blessed the chapel and delivered the sermon. Admiral Nimitz also present. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 27, 1994: A liturgy of welcome planned for Jerome Hanus, O.S.B., coadjutor archbishop of Dubuque. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 27, 2000: Sister Georgia Kilburg, O.S.F., celebrated her 100th birthday with a music program provided for the former music teacher extraordinaire. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 28, 2006: Catholic/Lutheran Ecumenical Day at Holy Ghost | The Witness | |
| Oct. 28, 1978: New St. Francis of Assisi Church, Balltown, dedicated. It was built atop the ruins of the old church destroyed by lightning in August 1976. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 29, 1978: St. Patrick’s/Dubuque, Centennial. | The Witness | |
| Oct. 31, 1900: Birth of Archbishop Leo Binz in Stockton, IL | Driscoll, We pray for our priests, p. 8 | |
| Oct. 31, 2013: Nano Nagle, Foundress of the Presentation Sisters, declared Venerable. | The Witness | |
| October 31, 1517: Anniversary of The Reformation (502 years ago). | The Witness |